You breed just for pets. Say you get your dogs checked out you know, their purebreds ect, health testing, sound temperment, only breed with a long time inbetween ect ect. Or when you breed should you be giving them mostly to homes that will show them or work them?

Yes it is still irresponsible breeding IMO. Like Roxy's CD said, even breeders of champion dogs will produce pet quality pups. Why intentionally prduce a a whole litter of pet quality pups? It doesnt make sense and all they are doing is contributing to over population

If there is a spay/neuter contract on all pups, and the breeder is willing to take back the pup at any time during its life, I don't think it's irresponsible.

However, I don't really see the point of such an undertaking. Pet quality pups are produced by responsible breeders on a regular basis, and are sold for a low price. Why would a person get a pup from pet quality parents, when the same sum would get them a pup from show quality parents?

In cockers, you will come across the occasional reputable pet cocker breeder. And this is where I find it hard to just see it as black and white. I know of a breeder that gets their dogs from show homes, health tests, raises the puppies VERY well, etc etc. They do everything a responsible breeder does, except show their dogs. And yes, their puppies are sold on S/N contracts and limited registration.

But, my general opinion is no. You shouldn't. But, altough I might believe breeding for pets isn't the best idea, I can't condemn those that do it responsibly.

If you do the required health testing for the breed and do your research to find a dog with qualities that complement and enhance those of yours and you choose to sell the resulting puppies to pet homes, I don't see an issue.

My definitions are different, but if someone did everything in the way of testing, contracts, support after the sale, etc, I wouldn't call them irresponsible so to speak, but unethical. There's far to many perfect pets created on accident and are easy to find to purposely breed pets. There are worse things they could be I guess, but its very rare to find someone that would go thru all that trouble to breed pets, its a very hypothetical question and not something you really find in the real world.

Having bred show quality tested Retrievers to mostly people who wanted them as their family dog , I feel I did no wrong. My mentor ( shower , judge and breeder ) and I were the only breeders in town for about 20 years. Theym only bred 2 of their dogs, I only one....litters ever 2 to 3 years. I bred for 35 to 40 years and always had a waiting list....I had many families who had gotten pups from 3 or 4 litters ....10 years apart. Whip me if you want to...... I've had my dogs go to Florida, Colorado, Ill , Ohio, New York and Md. So yes... I bred pet quality dogs.